Two Ludhiana bizmen lose Rs 6 lakh in electricity bill e-fraud

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 1

Cyber criminals have now chosen a novel way to defraud people on the pretext of making payment for electricity bills. Two big city industrialists were recently duped of Rs 6 lakh by cyber crooks and a domestic consumer of a few hundred rupees.

After the police got to know about the fraud, the cyber wing of the city police started a probe.

As per information, two city-based industrialists had received an email regarding their electricity bill of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh, respectively, and a link was given in the name of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Considering emails from the PSPCL, industrialists clicked on the link and deposited the bill as per the given instructions. Later, when they received a notice from the PSPCL regarding the non-payment of bills, the victims went to enquire from the department and were shocked to know that the bill was paid on spam link.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Jatinder Singh of the cyber cell said after receiving complaint when probe was started, it was found that cyber criminals have now chosen this modus operandi to defraud people and probe will definitely expose the people behind it.

“It is surprising that criminals were aware about the bill cycle of people and even the average bill and they send fraudulent emails to such consumers only. It is being suspected that criminals are having data of consumers. We will also scan the role of PSPCL officials if any during the probe,” said SI Jatinder Singh.

The third person defrauded by the accused was the domestic consumer who had made a payment of few hundred rupees by clicking on the link sent by the cyber crooks.

The cyber wing has requested the people if they receive any such fraudulent link asking for electricity bill, they should not click on such links and inform the police immediately.

To make the people aware about such frauds, the city police are posting video messages on the official Facebook and Twitter accounts of the Ludhiana police.